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-s.. w. BODIN-E. ATTACHMENT 30R SKIRTS. No. 578,312. Patented Mar. 9, 18-97.

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INVENTOR,

% a X SAZJ WZIQOD/ EL Jyy WITNESSES:

HER ATTORNEY3.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SADI V. BODINE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ATTACHMENT FOR SKIRTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,312, dated March 9, 1897.

Application filed June 2, 1896. Serial No. 593,964. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SADI W. BODINE, a citi-' zen of the United States, residing at New have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Skirts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for attaching the skirt of a bicycle-rider to some other portion of the apparel, such as the top of the shoe or some portion of the stocking or legging, so that the said skirt can be kept in its proper position at all times.

Various devices have been employed for maintaining the drapery in its normal position, in some instances the skirt being weighted to effect this purpose, but no entirely satisfactory means have yet been de vised for accomplishing the end at which I aim.

In an attachment of this nature it is desirable to have a securing device on each end which when once affixed will retain its grip or hold, but which can when desired be easily disconnected. It is also desirable to have a connection between the two fastening devices which will respond to the requirements of the situation; that is to say, as the skirt rises and falls with the movement of the pedals the connecting device as I employ it will be continually changing its position, and in order to secure the desired result it must be adapted to yield in various ways, as I shall explain.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure '1 represents my invention, showing its method of application. Fig. 2 is a view of my invention separated from the apparel. Fig. 3 represents a modification of my invention. Fig. 4 shows my invention in another form, and Fig. 5 is a detail view.

In the drawings, A represents the fixed arm or shank of one of my attaching devices, and B the hinged or movable arm, secured by means of a spring-hinge (not shown) to the end 0. This end, which is the base end, is

provided with an opening or eye D, through which the elastic, hereinafter referred to, is strung or threaded. The free end E of the arm B is retained in place after the manner of a safety-pin by the catch F, a shoulder G being provided, which, together with the catch F, forms an opening H, through which a complementary member of the elastic cord extends. This fastening device, as can be readily seen, is easily attachable and detachable to the hem or other part of the skirt, preferably from the inside. as shown in Fig. 1, and at or near the lower edge thereof. From the two extremities of the skirt-attachin g device, as described, and through the openings D and H aforesaid I extend elastic braids or cords J K. These are arranged to move freely through the openings D H aforesaid, so that when the skirt shifts and moves from side to side and raises and lowers the attachment will readily adapt itself to the change of position. The elastic braids or cords J K terminate in and are attached to the other fastening device, which I will proceed to describe. This fastening device consists of two members L and M, hinged together at N and provided with intermeshing teeth 0, which teeth are kept normally closed by the spring P, the latter extending around the hinge N. The member L extends outwardly and is provided with fold-over edges R, which meet at the point S, said fold-over portion being so arranged as to afford sufficient opening for the elastic connections J K, the latter being fixedly secured therein by means of rivets T.

It will be seen that the flexible cords J K form, in combination'with the two fastening devices, a V-shaped connection between the two fastening devices, giving the upper fastening device a certain leverage at its two extremities, and that also the upper fastening device can tilt vertically and swing horizontally or both together with perfect freedom, and that the take-ups on both connections will adjust themselves automatically to the situation. The advantage of such a construction is apparent, as I am enabled to secure the full strength requisite with the minimum use of material.

A modification and in some respects a preferred form of this device is shown in Fig. 3. The skirt-attaching device is the same, but the elastic band is continuous, and one loop of this band is brought down and over a pin U, the other loop being arranged over a similar pin located farther in. The pins U form a means of strengthening the attachment of the elastic band to the fastening device and also ameans of attachment, as when the elastic band wears slightly it can be taken up and the loop can be lengthened, thus decreasing the size of the elastic band between the two fastening devices. In this form also the foldover edges R can be made, if preferred, of soft metal, so that when the elastic wears out a new one can be inserted without trouble. This member of the fastening device can, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, be readily attached to the edge or to any other part of the wearers shoe or boot or can be attached to a stocking or legging in any convenient manner.

Another form of my invention is shown in Fig. 4. In this case the elastic cord or braid is attached to a wedge-shaped block V, which slides between and is secured in position within the two members of the locking device. In this case the member M is bent downwardly andinwardly from the hinge P,and both members are provided with longitudinal slots IV, the ears B being turned straight up in this case to afford means for securing the sliding wedge or block in its proper position. The pins Y are provided, which slide in the slots \V aforesaid, and thumb-pieces Z enable the userto readily manipulate the block or wedge. The effect of this structure is that when the device is in use and there is any considerable strain upon the elastic braid or cord it will pull upon the wedge or block V, which, sliding as aforesaid between the jaws or members of the gripping device, will cause the teeth 0 to bite with additional force.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A skirt-attaching device consisting of a fastening member provided with one fixed and one movable arm,openings or eyes in both ends of said member, a second fastening device constructed substantially as shown and described, and a flexible connection between the two openings or eyes of the fastener A and the second fastening device, all arranged as described and adapted to operate substantially as set forth.

2. In an attachment for a skirt, a fastening device consisting of the fixed arm A, the movable spring-arm B, the frame 0 provided with opening D, the catch-frame F provided with opening H, a retaining-shoulder G, a second fastening device constructed substantially as shown and described, and flexible connections J, K fixedly secured to one member of the attachment 'and movably secured to the other.

3. In an attachment for skirts, the combination of a fastening device provided with one fixed and one movable arm having means at the extreme ends of the device for securing a connection thereto, a second and lower fastening device constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described, and a V- shaped flexible connection extending between the upper portion of the lower fastening device and the extreme ends of the upper fastening device, as and for the purpose set forth.

SADI XV. BODINE. Witnesses:

HERBERT KNIGHT, J. GREEN. 

